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J Dilla's MPC Is Headed To The Smithsonian, Where It Belongs

Around these parts, J Dilla‘s legacy needs no reinforcement. We understand how foundational his process and his touch were to hip-hop, much more to culture. And in a move straight off the OKP wish list, the currently in-construction Museum Of African American History And Culture has sided with the donut lover in all of us. Last night at DC Loves Dilla, Ma Dukes took to the stage with a rep from the latest addition to The Smithsonian‘s arsenal of institutions to announce that Jay Dee’s MPC and custom Moog (built for him by Dr. Robert Moog no less!) will be installed in the museum to keep telling the story of his immeasurable contribution to our lives and to music.

“Dilla will be there when you walk through those doors,” the Smithsonian Museum representative stated. This seismic announcement was made before a near capacity crowd at the historic Howard Theatre to raucous applause from attendees of the 2014 DC Loves Dilla event. The show was a J Dilla Foundation/Lupus fundraiser featuring Phife Dawg, N’Dea D’avenport of Brand New Heavies fame, Pharaohe Monch and Bahamadia. The show was hosted by DC Loves Dilla mainstay and brother of hip-hop Soul Brother #1, Grap Luva (and attended by OKP’s DC correspondent Mel Blunt, who put us up on this breaking news in record time–what up, Mel).

The addition of Dilla’s MPC to the Smithsonian’s collection is a coup on the order of getting one of Basquiat‘s brushes or Jimi‘s guitar or The Godfather‘s cape or Louie‘s trumpet–all of which we hope have either already been added to the list of installations or would at least be considered. The Museum Of African American History And Culture should be opening its doors late next year/early 2016 to the masses, so you’ll have to hold tight for a bit (get it?) But it’s certainly worth the wait. We’ll have more on the exhibit as details roll-out, so be sure to keep it locked. We’re also told that in 2015, DC Loves Dilla will feature a live performance of “A Suite for Ma Dukes.” Where, you may ponder? The Kennedy Center, dammitt!